Method and apparatus for



Dec. 8, 1953 F. o. MGMILLAN 2,661,784

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHELLING NUTS Filed July 21, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 23 W w 22 O l z/ INVENTOR. Fred 0. MCM/Y/dl? if BY Dec. 8, 1953 F. o. M MILLAN 2,661,784

. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHELLING NUTS Filed July 21 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A INVENTOR. Fred 0. McM///an BY Dec. 8, 1953 F. o. MGMILLAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHELLING NUTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 21. 1950 Dec. '8. 1953 F. o. MOMILLAN 2,661,784

METHOD AND APPARATUS. FOR SHELLING NUTS Filed July 21. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v; u x a s F/ /5 I Q I 3 I 0 s I 2 u T me Microqeconds Frec/ O. McMillan INVENTOR.

/iM W Faientecl Pee. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT 2,6613% OF FICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHELLING NUTS The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for treating nuts, and. more particularly to methods and apparatus useful in the separation of shells from the nut meats.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 31,620, filed June 8, 1948 which is now abandoned.

Prior to the present invention, the shells of nuts have normally been cracked by mechanical means and the particles of the shell separated from the nut meat hand picking, screening, blowing, flotation, or other mechanical means. These are tedious processes and unsatisfactory for numerous reasons. Mechanical cracking of the nuts results in a substantial breakage of the nut meat, and is extremely dificult to separate the small nut meat particles from the shell fragments. In order to minimize damage to the nut meat, the shell is purposely incompletely broken with the result that much of the nut meat is left pocketed within cavities of the larger shell pieces and which must be picked out by hand. Also mechanical cracking tends to wedge portions of the nut meat tightly into the shell cavities rendering more difiicult the matter of extraction of such portions.

It has been proposed to shell nuts by means of high pressure gas introduced into the shell for the purpose of shattering the shell by high inter nal pressure. It has also been proposed to inject explosive gas into the shell and to ignite the same either by a flame or by an electric spark and thereby explode the shell. Such processes involve relatively complicated and expensive machinery and are generally unsatisfactory because of the problems of handling the gas and the injection thereof into the shell.

A d by subjecting the natural, untreated nuts to a current electrical impulse discharge and, as a result of which, the shell is substantially entirely shattered into relatively small fragments while e nut meat itself remains substantially undam- Gccasionally, the meat is broken into two or three pieces, but these are, nonetheless, of lsize so that the nut meat can readily be ated from the shell particles by a simple screening operation.

It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of shelling :iuts electrically. More specifically, it an object oi the present invention to provide a method oi shelling nuts by means of substantially instantaneous hi h-voltage, high-current, electrical discharges.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new improved apparatus for shelling nuts electrically.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for feeding nuts to an electric shelling arrangement.

For a consideration of what is believed novel and inventive, attention is directed to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings while the features of nov- W l be p nted out with greater particularity in the appended claims.

In accordance with my present invention, I pass natural, untreated nuts between a pair of electrodes and simultaneously subject them to a substantially instantaneous high-voltage, high-current electrical impulse discharge. By the term, natural, untreated nuts is meant nuts in their natural condition which have not been given any preparatory treatment except such drying as may be necessary to prevent spoilage while being handled or stored, though drying is not essential insofar as the present invention is concerned. A portion of the discharge will take place within the shell of the nut and, as a result thereof, a relatively great pressure will be created within the nut substantially instantaneously and which results in shattering of the shell.

The high internal gas pressur created by the electric discharge is the result of various phenomena. There is a considerable volume or" gas and vapor inherently present within a natural, untreated nut, between the nut meat and the shell and which is acted upon by the electric discharge passing through the nut. It will be understood that gases in accordance with the kinetic theory are considered to be made up of minute, perfectly elastic particles which are constantly moving about with high velocities, colliding with each other and with the walls of the containing vessel. The pressure exerted by a gas is due to the impact of the moving particles upon the walls of the containing vessel, the magnitude of the pressure being dependent upon the kinetic energy of the particles and their number. Upon the occurrence of the electric discharge within the nut shell, kinetic energy is added to the gas and vapor and additional gases and vapors are liberated from the shell and kernel and, also, certain gas or vapor molecules are ionized, the combinations of which effects increases greatly the kinetic energies oi the gas and vapor particles within the shell as well as their number.

The ionization of the gases within the shell which increases the total number of gas particles will be due to both radiation absorption and electron bombardment, though some ionization may result from the rapid movement of positive ions in the intense electric fields employed and from the high temperature of the electric discharge.

' The increase in pressure created within the shell as the result of the electric discharge passed therethrough is of such magnitude and takes place with such rapidity that the restraining shell is blown outwardly with explosive violence and is substantially fragmented. The kernel or" the nut, which exerts little or no restraining force, suffers slight, if any, damage. Of further practical importance is the fact that the shell fragments are forcefully blown away from the vicinity of the electrodes while only slight, ii any, impelling force is given to the kernel.

The amount of energy released and the rate at which it is released by the electric discharge within the shell of the nut being cracked can be accurately controlled within wide limits by the character of the electric power supply, the magnitude of the voltage employed, the resistance, inductance, and capacitance of the circuit used to apply the electric impulses.

The electrodes used for applying the electric discharges to the nuts may be made in any of a wide range of shapes ranging from sharp points to flat planes of limited i'lowever, the preferred electrode shapes are those which w ll concentrate a high dielectric flux density and consequently a high voltage gradient in the region occupied by the nut being cracked and that have a relatively very short time-lag in breakdown at the time of the electric discharge. A gap with a short time-lag characteristic is obtained with blunt or shielded electrodes that are essentially free from ionization or corona when voltage is applied and increased until a critical voltage gradient is reached at which ioni ation suddenly occurs and progresses completely across the gap between electrodes resulting in complete breakdown and electric discharge without further increase in the applied voltage. Electrodes having these short time-lag characteristics are those which have spherical, hemispherical, and other smooth, blunt facing surfaces. The gap spacings at which these electrodes will give the desired short time-lag characteristics are from very short spacings up to values approximately equal to the electrode diameter. Therefore the size of the electrodes should be made large enough to have the required characteristics at the maximum discharge gap used.

There are a considerable number of circuits which may be employed for producing the high voltage impulses supplied to the electrodes. The most satisfactory, however, are those which incorporate a capacitor and which is charged from thepower supply at a relatively slow rate and subsequently suddenly discharged as the voltage charge on the capacitor exceeds the critical breakdown voltage of the electrode gap. The instant of discharge can be timed with the positioning of the nut between the electrodes, or the circuit can be either so arranged or adjusted that the positioning of the nut between the electrodes will automatically result in breakdown of the electrode gap.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a simplified form of high voltage impulse discharge circuit; Fig. 2 is an explanatory schematic diagram illustrating the dielectric flux field between a pair of gap electrodes in air; nig. 3 is an explanatory schematic diagram illustrating the dielectric flux iield with a nut positioned between the electrodes; Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second modification of a discharge circuit for an impulse capacitor; "Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a further modification of the discharge circuit for an impulse capacitor; Fig. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating a further modification of a charging arrangement for an impulse capacitor; Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating another modification of a high voltage impulse discharge circuit arrangement; Fig. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating a still further modification of a high voltage impulse discharge apparatus; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view in perspective illustrating a nut feeding arrangement; Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Iil-lll of Fig. .9; Fig. ll is a diagrammatic view in perspective illustrating a still further form of a nut feeding arrangement; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view in cross section illustrating certain details of the apparatus shown in Fig. ll Fig. 13 is a View illustrating a modified discharge electrode arrangement; l i is a schenatic diagram illustrating a synchronous switch incorporated in an impulse capacitor discharge circuit; 15 is a diagrammatic curve illustrating certain characteristics of impulse current discharges inherent with the circuits of Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, '7, 8 and 14; Fig. 1.6 is a schematic view illustrating a further modification of a nut feeding and shattering arrangement; Fig. 1'. is a cross-sectional view taken along line l'i-J'l of Fig. 16; and 18 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an alternative electrode arrangement.

Referring now to Fig. 1, one form of apparatus is illustrated d' grairunatically which may be utilized for creating hi h voltage and high current electrical discharges for cracking nuts. A nut is shown at 1'8 positioned between a pair of electrodes 2! whch are spaced apart a distance substantially greater than the maximum dimension of the nut. Power supplied from any suitable voltage source such as an alternating current source 22, which is connected to the primary of a high voltage transformer 23. The secondary voltage of the transformer 23 may be adjusted in accordance with the type, size, and spacing of the electrodes M by any suitable voltage regulating means (not shown) in the transformer primary circuit. One terminal of the transformer secondary is shown connected to a ha1fway rectifier 25, such as a lrenotron tube, the output terminal of the rectifier being connected through a protective resistance 26 to one terminal of the capacitor 27. The opposite terminal of the capacitor 2'! is connected to the second terminal of the transformer secondary winding. The electrodes ii are connected across the terminals or" the capacitor 27, an inductor 28 and resistor 29 being connected in series circuit relation with the electrodes. The inductor 28 represents the inherent inductance of the series circuit together with such additional inductance as may be provided for controlling the shape of the impulse wave supplied to the electrodes. The resistance 29 is provided for limiting the current discharge in the gap circuit to a safe value as de-- termined by the current limitations for the capacitor 21.

In the operation of this circuit, the capacitor 27 is first charged with direct current energy through the rectifier 25, the charging rate being controlled by the value of the resistance 28. Due to the rounded surface configuration of the electrodes 25, their separation and spacing with respect to the nut 23, as shown, no discharge in the form of corona will take place on the surfaces thereof prior to the time that the voltage charge built up in the capacitor 2'. approaches the critical breakdown voltage for the electrode gap. As soon as the breakdown voltage for the electrode gap is reached, a discharge will take lace between the electrodes. The discharge, in passing through the nut, will substantially instantaneously increase the internal pressure against the nut shell to efiect shattering thereof as explained above.

Any suitable means, such as will be described hereinafter, may be employed for feeding or positioning successive nuts between the electrodes 2| in timed relation with respect to the charging or discharge rate of the capacitor 2? so that the discharge will occur simultaneously with the positioning of nut 2!} between the electrodes 2i. to e understood that the positioning of the nut bet sen the electrodes 2! is not critical for the re so that there will be a normal tendency for the discharge to take place between the electrodes through the nut since it will offer a path of less resistance for the discharge even though it is not placed directly in alignment between the electrodes. With reference to Fig. 2, it is pointed out that, in the case of hemispherical electrodes as indicated Fig. 1, the dielectric lines of force between the electrodes 25 extend normally from the surface of the electrodes at any given point and follow a curvilinear path toward the opposite electrode. Since the potential gradient at the electrode surface is greatest between the points of closest proximity, the force lines will be concentrated to a greater degree at the center of the dielectric field than toward the fringe areas and with only bet the electrodes, the discharge will take place generally along the shortest path. If a nut is introduced into the area between the c trodes as indicated, for example, in Fig. 3 at the field pattern. illustrated in Fig. 2 e altered to the extent that the dielectric constant of the nut is greater than that or" air the flux density in the path through the not. The discharge will, therefore, take place along the line of greatest flux density through the nut some such line as indicated by the dotted line i. it follows, therefore, that the nut need be positioned only approximately between the electrodes ii in order to insure passage of the discharge therethrough. Thus, in speaking of passing or placing a nut between the electrodes, the term as used in the present specification and claims includes the positioning of a nut in a sufficiently contiguous relation to a pair of discharge electrodes as to provide a path of lesser dielectric strength therebetween than the dielectric strength of the air gap between the electrodes.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not essential that the condenser 27 be charged with a voltage corresponding to th air breakdown voltage of the electrode in the case or" a basic circuit arrangement as shown in Fig. 1, it will be sufiicient, and it will generally be desirable, to charge the capacitor 2? with a potential slightly less than the breakdown voltage for the electrodes. As will be observed with reference to Fig. 3, the dielectric strength of the gap is less with the nut therein than with the nut removed. So long as the capacitor is charged with a potential greater than the critical breakdown voltage for the gap with the nut therebetween, the capacitor will automatically discharge across the electrodes immediately upon movement of the nut therebetween. The nut, itself, therefore serves as a trigger for the gap discharge and substantially irrespective of the speed with which the nut may be moved between the electrodes.

In the case of hemispherical electrodes of, for example, 6 cm. in diameter, the critical breakdown voltage for spacing of 6 cm. will be of the order or" 100 kv. With a not 4 cm. in length, for ex" ample, positioned therebetween, the critical breakdown voltage for the gap is reduced to between 50 and 70 kv. so it will be obvious, therefore, that the capacitor 21 may be charged to a sufficiently high potential with a transformer secondary voltage of the order of 50 to '75 lav. maximum While the capacitor, itself, may have a capacitance or" the order of 0.125 ml. to 0.250 mi. The value of the resistance 23 may, for example, be of the order of from 75,000 to 1,000,000 ohms depending upon the rating of the transformer, the current rating of the rectifier, and the charging time desired for capacitor 21. The value of the resistance 20 is determined by the maximum discharge current rating of the capacitor 2'1 and should be kept as low as is safe in order that the discharge current will be as high as possible. ihis resistance may, for example, be of the order of 5 ohms in the circuit described. The total inductance oi the discharge circuit and represented by the inductor 23 may be, for example, of the order of 2 X 10 henry. Under such circuit conditions, the discharge current will be of the order of 10,000 amperes. It Will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the values for the various circuit elements may be varied within wide limits, and those given are merely set forth for purposes of illustration.

It will readily be understood by one skilled in the art that, in the case of an apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 1, the potential to which the capacitor ill must be oh rged is determined by the gap spacing and which need be merely so great that nuts may be readily passed therebetween. Obviously, the capacitor 2? cannot be charged to a potential greater than the critical breakdown voltage of the gap. While a current value of the gap discharge of the order of 10,000 amperes has been found suitable for use in eifecting a complete shattering of walnut shells, it will be recognized that this value is by no means critical and may be varied widely. Obviously, less energy will be required to s latter soft shelled nuts, such as peanuts, than will be required for hard shelled nuts, such a black walnuts. The circuit constants may be selected so as to provide a current value for the discharge producing the most satisfactory results for any given type or nature of nut. In general, however, peak current values, for the discharge impulse of the order of at least many hundreds of amperes will be found desirable.

As is well known by those skilled in the art, the impulse discharge w ch will occur across the electrodes 25 of the circuit illustrated in 1 is characterized by a very steep wave rout such as may be illustrated by curve iii! in Fig. 3.5 in which current is plotted in ainperes, the peak 2' being of the order or many hundreds, or even thousands, of amperes, and time is plotted in microseconds, the total elapsed time required for the current to reach maximum value, or T1, be ing of the order of one or two microseconds in the case of a capacitor '27! of 0.125 ml. and approximately three microseconds for a capacitor value of 0.250 mi. in the preferred, low resistance circuit, the discharge transient will have an oscillatory characteristic, but whether the discharge transient is of an oscillatory or nonoscillatory nature is immaterial for present purposes. By increasing the circuit resistance, represented by resistor 20, the discharge transient may be altered from the oscillatory to the nonoscillatory or damped condition as may be illustrated by the dotted curve in Fig. 15. For the critically damped condition, with a capacitance rating of 0.250 Int, the resistance of the discharge circuit should be of the order of 17.9 ohms. Due to the higher value of circuit resistance in such case the crest value of the current impulse wave would be materially less than in-the former case as indicated by the relative magnitudes of the two curves ill! and I02. This, of course, represents a material decrease in the efiiciency of the discharge circuit insofar as pres-- ent purposes are concerned. In order to increase the maximum value c! the discharge current to a level comparable to that for the oscillatory condition, the size of the capacitor 21 may be correspondingly increased.

As previously mentioned, the eflicacy of the method and apparatus of the present invention is dependent upon the sudden application of energy to the nuts being treated or, in other words, that the elapsed time required for the discharge current to reach peak value be short. The exact time required for the current to reach maximum value is not critical and may be lengthened considerably though with progressively decreasing circuit efficiency. In the specific example given, the inductance of the discharge circuit represented by the inductor 2B is purposely made relatively low in order to provide a steep front for the discharge wave. By increasing the value of the inductance 28 to 346 mierohenries the time required for the discharge current to reach maximum value would be approximately microseconds as compared with approximately two microseconds for the circuit first considered. By increasing the inductance further to 33,000 microhenries, approximately 100 microseconds would be required for the current discharge to reach maximum value.

In the case of a nonoscillatory circuit condition and with a capacitor 21 of 0.125 mf,, a circuit resistance 29 of 160 ohms, and an inductance 28 of 800 microhenries will produce a current crest at about 10 microseconds. With a resistance of 1600 ohms and an inductance of 80,000 microhenries the crest may he further prolonged to 100 microseconds. Such periods of elapsed time, 10, or 100 icroseconds, or even longer, may be satisfactory for cracking certain types of nuts depending; upon various factors such as brittleness and porosity of the shell. If the energy is imparted too slowly to the nut, the pressure may be dili'used through the pores of the nut shell without effecting the desired degree of shattering. By increasing the magnitude of the current through the use of increased capacitance 2'1, complete shattering of nut shells may be eifected even with relatively long, sloping current wave shapes but the power consumption is correspondingly increased tending to reduce the overall efficiency of the system.

It will be obvious, therefore, that the steeper the wave front, or in other words, the shorter the time lag for the current discharge wave to reach maximum value, the lower will he the current, and hence power, requirements. While a current value of several hundred amperes at one or two microseconds might be sufficient to completely shatter a given nut, current value of the order of 20,000 amperes might be required to shatter the same nut at 100 microseconds. It is to he understood that insofar as the present invention is concerned even a 100 microsecond wave front may he considered as steep as cor. pared with a common 60 cycle sine wave, in which case approximately 4,200 microseconds are required for the current wave to increase from zero to maximum value. A 60 cycle wave front would, of course, be ineffective for cracking nuts according to the present invention.

The present invention, therefore, is characten ized by the fact that shattering oi the nut shell is accomplished by suh'ecting the nut to a current impulse discharge oi at least several hundred amperes for relatively soft shelled nuts to several thousand amperes for harder shelled nuts. By the term substantially instantaneously applied impulse discharge is meant current wave which increases from zero to maximum value substantially instantaneously, that is, pref-- erably at the rate of at least several hundred amperes per microsecond.

The circuit arrangem t shown in i is substantially the same shown in Fig. l

tinned between a pair or in series with a second p trodes The electrodes of any configuration. that i corona formation and ill matter of ccnvcn: the gap electrodes of corona free ty such as of spheric u ation. down. voltage for the disch. course, determined by the "ween the pairs of electrodes 35 aregard to rely i1 as the c I denser 21 until the l Th P p at may, therefore, be tei er gap initia sudo iischarg'e condenser 3; t 1 e nut. "in the mod: -cation of c, it v oe noted that the ercl y stored in the capac r ll is divided between the 3t and that, in order to ellect cracking of the nut 2c, the charge of the c pacitcr 2? would have to be somewhat t an in the of the circuit arrangement shown in l.

in the further znoc fication illustrated Fig. 5, the nut 28 is shown oetwen a pair of electrodes 33 and which are connected across a resistor 40 arranged in series with the voltage control gap electrodes 4!. The resistor 19, in this instance, may be, for example, of the order or 5,083 ohms and shunts the pair of electrodes 39 and applies essentially the full voltage of condenser 21 across the control electrodes ll. In the arrangement shown in 5, the charge for the condenser 2'! is determined solely by the gap electrodes 4!. Immediately upon breakdown of the gap of electrodes M, the entire voltage is impressed across the resistor 40 and, since the discharge voltage or the gap -H is substantially greater than the discharge voltage oi the electrodes 39, breakdown of the gap of the electrodes M will be immediately "followed by hreai1- down of the gap of the electrodes 39, and the resultant discharge occurring between the latter electrodes will effect shattering of the shell of the nut as previously described. Since no discharge will occur across the gap of the electrodes 39 prior to the breakdown of the gap 4!, immaterial what configuration is given to the electrodes 39 insofar as corona formation is concerned. The discharge of capacitor El, after passing across the control gap electrodes 45, branches and a small part of the energy is converted into in resister ill While the greater part is dissipated in the nut and gap between electrodes 35!. The proportion of the energy converted into heat in resistance 40 can be reduced to a minimum by malzii'ig the value of resistance 60 large.

In the modification of Fig. l, provision is made for only half-Wave rectification for the charging of the capacitor 21. More efficient utilization of power. can be effected with a full-wave rectification and the previously described circuit may be modified to provide for full-wave rectification as illustrated in Fig. 6. In this instance, one or" the terminals of the condenser 233 is conected to the midpoint of the secondary winding of the transformer 23 while the outer terminals or" the transformer secondary are connected to separate corresponding rec the output terminals of which are connected together and to the opposite terminal of the condenser through the protective resistor i l.

In the modification of Fig. '7, the condenser ill is connected for chargin with an alternating current voltage, the opposite terminals of the condenser 2'! being connected through wave traps ll and it and inductances so and F to the op-- posite terminals of the secondary winding of the transformer 52. discharge loop circuit for the gap electrodes iii is, in this instance, shown in the simplified form crrresponding to that of Fig. 1, it being understood. however, that the dis charge circuit for the condenser El may he of the type illustrated in either Figs. 4 or 5 if de sired. The secondary voltage of the transformer 52 must, in this case, be somewhat higher than the breakdown voltage for the electrode gap 5i while the condenser 2? is successively charged and discharged during each half wave of the applied potential. The inductances and are provided for the purpose of preventing iropulse currents returning to transformer winding upon the discharge of the condenser 22? while the wave traps ll and 4t each consisting of a relatively small inductor with a paralleling re sistance are provided flattening out the steep fronts and dissipating a part of the energy in the current waves reflected upon the windings of the inductors 49 and In the event that the power supply to the transformer 52 of 7 is oil-cycle, capacitor 2? will be charged at the rate of 120 times per second. The nuts may be red between the electrodes in synchronism with the power supply so that the discharge will occur simultaneously with positioning of the nuts between the electrodes. This is easy of accomplishment merely by driving the feeding means with a synchronous motor. Alternatively, the nuts may he passed more slowly between the gap electrodes, or the electrodes may be of longitudinal configuration in the direction of the path of travel of the nuts so that each nut will be subjected to a plurality oi discharges in the event that complete shattering did not result from the discharge therethrough.

In the circuit arrangement illustrated in 8, three-phase alternating current power sup ply is illustrated in the form of a deltawye connected transfor er with a rectifier concted in series with oi the legs or" the trans-- being all connected together through a protective inductance to one terminal of a storage capacitor 5?. The other terminal of the capacitor 5'? is connected. through a protective inductance 58 to the neutral terminal of the transformer secondary. An impulse capacitor is connected parallel with the storage capacitor 5"? with current limiting resistors wave traps connected between each pair of terminals or he capacitors and A dis ging circuit is provided for the ca-- pacitor 58 including a pair of gap electrodes G2 to discharging circuit shown in Fig. 1 but which may be substituted by the discharge circuits illustrated in Figs. 4 or 5 if desired. The

advantage of employing a storage capacitor 51 ahead of the impulse capacitor 53 lies in the fact that the charging time for the impulse capacitor 53 may be substantially reduced inasmuch as the storage capacitor El may be charging during the interim that the capacitor lit is discharging through the gap electrodes it being understood that discharging of the storage capacitor 57? through the electrode gap is precluded by the resistors cc provided between the capacitors 58 and ill. Moreover the voltage drop occurring across the resistors is sufficiently great so that the discharge are across the electrode gap is extinguished imediately upon discharge of the capacitor 5%.

Considering specifically the case of walnuts, the ch .51 consists of two halves which are joined together along adjacent edges extending lengthwise of the nut. The dielectric strength of the shell is weakest along the juncture of the shell halves and particularly in the direction longitudinally of the nut. It is desirable, therefore, to feed the nut between the electrodes with the longitudinal axis of the nut parallel and, oreferably, in alignment with the common axis of the electrodes. Various means may be provided by one sk lled in the art for feeding nuts in such a manner between the electrodes, and several modifications are disclosed.

Referring now to the drawing of Fig. 9, a hopper is shown at it having side walls converging downwardly toward a discharge opening at the lower end. A chute ll sloping downwardly angle of, for example, 15 communicates it the discharge opening of the hopper it. [any suitable means (not shown) may be provided for insuring free flow oi the nuts into the its chute. illustrated in the detail view of Fig. the bottom wall it of the chute is curved 'tly in the transverse direction the upper ce is suitably roughened or coated to ine rolling movement of the nuts. Walnuts as well as most other types of nuts are generally of an elongated shape and, due to this elongation, rolling down a sloping surface they will tend to roll about their smaller diameter as indicated at it in Fig. 10. A pair of electrical discharge electrodes l'5 may be mounted adjacent the discharge end of the chute l so that the nuts rolling from the chute will pass between the electrodes '55 in approximately the properly aligned relation therewith. .t will be obvious, that at least that part or the chute next adjacent the electrodes should be of noncurrent conductive material.

The nuts, in falling freely between the electrodes, automatically initiate the electrical charge between the electrodes or the discharge be otherwise controlled so as to take place the instant of positioning of the nut between the electrodes, and which, for reasons previously explained, will talre place through the nut itself and result in shattering thereof.

Referring now to Fig. ll, a further feeding means is shown comprising a rotatable huh a number of hollow arms ti extending radial therefrom. hub til is mounted on she. t direct-coupled to the motor 32. A hollow shaft i i coupled to a vacuum pump (not extends stationarily into the hub til and provided with a valve land on one side thereoi (see l2) severing communication between the vacuum pump and the hollow arms iii at one point in revolution of the huh. The arms 36 rotate through a tray kept filled with nuts by 1 1 A, gravity eed from a hopper (not shown) and one up by suction with the soft plastic i on. the of each arm at each turn The nut is carried between a pair at mounted adjacent each of the opposite axles of the path of travel of the nuts and beyond the end of the tray 88. The cups 89 are oblong in shape with the long dimension extllel with the axis of rotation so that the nuts seat therein and be carried lcngth wise parallel with the axis of the electrodes. Suction will be cut off from the arms, as each one from between the electrodes 91, by the valve land Any suitable baffle means (not shown) be provided to keep the shell frag ments from being blown into the tray 88.

The motor 32! may be of the synchronous type in case the nuts are required to be fed between the electrodes til at a predetermined fixed rate and interval, or of any other suitable type, in the event that the discharges between the electrodes initiated by the nuts themselves. On the other hand, a simple switching arrangement mechanically coupled to the nut feeding means may be provided for controlling the capacitor discharge circ' it. As shown schematically in the diagram of Fig. 14, a capacitor discharge circuit is shown similar to that of Fig. 5. In this modification, a switch 95 is provided in series circuit with the resistor the switch including a rotating element such as a disc 95 of insulating mate rial. provided with spaced apart electrically conductive inserts 9i adjacent its peripheral portion for establishing conductive connection between the opposed brushes of switch 95. The disc 96 may be mechanically coupled to the nut feeding means 68 which for example, be of the type illustrated in Fig. 11, and in which case the numher and spacing of the conductive inserts 3T correspond with the number and spacing of the nut positioning elements of the feeding means 98. In the drawing, the disc 35 and. nut feeding means 33 indicated as being mounted on a common shaft represented by the dotted line 99. With such a switch arrangement, closure of the discharge circuit and discharging of the capacitor 2'! may be accurately controlled mechanically so that the discharges across the electrodes 39 will occur simultaneously with the positioning of the nut therebetween.

the shell might never be developed. It is im pcrtant in all modifications of the invention that the discharge throu h the nut be substantially instantaneous so tl: t the internal pressure be u *eloped 'sulzistannaily instantaneously and which will result in the shattering of the shell before any leakage of pressure can occur tlir the walls of the shell substantially irrespective of the of porosity thereof.

in In Fig. 13 is shown a pair of electrodes 93 which are elongated in the direction of the path of travel of the nut 94 which is passed therebetween. The nut 34 may be either dropped or shot between the electrodes at a relatively high rate of is speed but, because of the length of the electrodes,

the timing of the discharge with respect to the positioning of the nut therebetween will be relatively simple. On the other hand, with 2, capacitor 21 having a fast charging rate, as in the so case of Fig. 8, the nut may even be subjected to a plurality of discharges during the interval of time it is between the electrodes. By suitable adjustment of the discharge potential, the discharges can be made to occur automatically by :3 the presence of the whole nut between the electrodes and which will automatically be discontinued as soon as the nut has been shattered. It will be noted that the outer edges of the electrodes 93 are rounded as indicated at 52 for reasons explained above. In the case of the modifications shown in Figs. 4 and 5 where the discharge of the impulse capacitor is controlled by a separate set of gap electrodes, the nut cracking electrodes may be of any shape without regard 1m to surface configuration since no corona of any consequence wil1 form on the adjacent surfaces in advance of a breakdown of the control gap. Moreover the nut cracker electrodes may engage directly with the opposite sides or opposite ends of the nut if desired.

As previously mentioned, the discharge electrodes between which the nuts are cracked may be of any (1,. ed shape and surface configuration except where they are connected in a circuit such as shown 11 Fig. l, for example, where the capacitor pot ntial is at all times impressed upon the electrodes. in such case, the facing surfaces of the electrodes should be smooth and with the edges rounded so as to minimize the formation of corona upon the electrode surfaces prior to the instant of complete breakdown. It will be recognised by those skilled in the art that, if the electrodes connected in a discharge circuit as shown in l are provided with sharp points or edges on their adjacent surfaces, corona discharge will take place considerably in advance of the breakdown voltage. The corona discharge will increase progressively in extent across the electrode as the critical voltage is reached so that the total period of energy dissipation is spread over a considerable period of time. It will be understood that the shells of nuts are relatively porous and, if the kinetic energy is supplied gradually to the gases thereof, the gas will escape from the shell and pressure sufficient to break In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17, nuts may be fed one at a time in rapid succession from the hopper HG, through suitable flow controlling means Hl arranged in the bot- 5 tom of the hopper, into an inclined chute arrangement. The chute arrangement includes an elongated lower electrode H2 having a relatively sharp longitudinal upper edge H3, and a pair of spaced longitudinal guides (M of suitable insulating material on each of the opposite sides of electrode H2 for guiding the nuts, such as H6, down the chute. A cooperating elongated electrode H! is suspended by any suitable insu lating means, not shown, above and in parallel alignment with the electrode H2 and spaced therefrom a suitable distance to permit free passage of nuts therebetween in going down the chute. The lower edge of the electrode H1 is sharp as in the case of the adjacent edge of elecco trode H2 in order to provide a high concentration of flux at such points. With the electrodes H2 and HT connected to discharge circuits of the type shown in 4 and 5 in the manner of electrodes or 39, discharge will occur between electrodes H2 and H1 upon passage of a nut H6 therebetween. Upon shattering of the nut, the pieces will be blown out of the chute by the force of the explosion or fall downwardly between the electrode H2 and the guide rails H4. A suitable vibrator unit I I9 may be connected to the chute for vibrating the same to insure continuous movement of the nuts down the chute.

Because the nut in passing down the chute is at all times in direct contact with the sharp up- 15 per edge H3 of the lower electrode, a. high concentration of flux is created on the inner suri of the nut shell opposite the point of contact,

indicated at till, at the initiation of the discharge which will be instrumental in causing the ensuing discharge to take place diametrically through indicated by dotted line 122, rather possibly taking place ineffectively along a creepage path on the outer surface of the shell. in the modification 01" Fig. 18, a chute is by two parallel, spaced apart rectangular electr le rods so mounted that the nuts 5 It will glide, or roll, therealong in contact with two up adjacent corners EM. In this case the from the lower electrodes at the initiation a discharge will be divided between the two 5 points and forked discharge talre through the nut indicated by If desired, of the rods I23 dotted l nes 25. may be of insulating material in which case the 7.. will all be concentrated at the point of conact of the nut with the singl electrode rod and in d discharge will tall-re place through the nut. "Jlth referenc to 18. it will be observed that "re electrical dische path indicated by dotted Cl- H t1 lin s it 1 not end diametrically through the nut i it but by the term substantially clil. The sists of shat cracking nuts which conthe shell of nuts solely by ly diametrically .hrough the e substantially i stant-ans us high voltage t al impulse arge wi h a current value the order of at least many hundreds of amexpanding the naturally cona nut by sub oting the nut to voltage elecrge with a current value of hundreds of ainperes. cl clring hlts which con- J! s ieously orig-ending in a natural uni ated nut by subhigi high voltage e ectrical impulse dissaid dis-chi e being at a rate of the oroi niperes per micro-second.

t ically oppos d electrodes, sudhigh voltage and high current d llP o substantially diae'h said nut, t1 r. rate said disthe order of hundreds of arncond whereby the natural within the of said nut will be sud- .enly expanded witexplosive force and cause of said shell.

5. The method of cracking nuts which cor prises the steps of applying a high voltage across a pair of spaced apart electrodes without aple corona formation thereupon, the applied voltage slightly less than the critical breakdown voltage for the gap space between electrodes, passing a natural untreated nut between said electrodes whereby the resultant reduction in the dielectric strength of the electrode gap causes substantially instantaneous break down thereof with the electrical discharge passing through said nut and shattering the shell thereof.

6. The method of cracking nuts which cornprises the steps of applying a high voltage charge across a pair of spaced apart electrodes, the ap plied voltage being slightly less than the critical voltage for the electrode gap space, passing a natural untreated nut between said electrodes whereby an electrical discharge takes place substantially instantaneously between said electrodes and passing through said nut.

'7. The method of cracking nuts which consists of positioning a natural untreated nut between a pair of opposed electrodes and substantially instantaneously applying a high voltage impulse across said electrodes, the voltage being sufficiently high to cause breakdown of the electrode gap, the rate of the gap discharge being of the order of at least hundreds of amperes per microsecond, the electric discharge penetrating said and shattering the same.

8. In an apparatus for cracking nuts, the combination comprising a pair of electrodes, said electrodes being spaced apart a distance greater than the maximum diameter of the nuts to be cracked, means for positioning a nut between said spaced apart electrodes, a capacitor, discharge circuit means connecting the terminals of said capacitor to said electrodes, and power supply means for charging said capacitor to a voltage at least sufficient to cause discharge thereof across said electrodes with a nut positioned there between, said discharge circuit having low inductance and resistance whereby the rate of current discharge of said capacitor across electrodes will be of the order of hundreds amperes per microsecond, said discharge norma1- 1y extending substantially diametrically through the nut.

9. An apparatus for shelling nuts comprising a pair of electrodes, said electrodes being spaced apart a distance greater than the di ameter of the nuts to be shelled, me s for passing nuts between said electrodes, a capacitor, power supply means connected to capacitor for charging the same, and circuit m ns connecting said capacitor to said electrod or d charging the same thereacross at a current value of the order of at least many hundreds of a. whereby the shell of the nut positioned be 1 said electrodes at the time of discharge will be shattered.

10. An apparatus for shelling nuts a pair of electrodes, said electrodes being spaced apart a distance greater than the maximum diameter of the nuts to he shelled, means for 1'. ing nuts between said electrodes, a capacitor, power supply means connected to capacitor for charging the same to a voltage ightly less than the air breakdown voltage of the electrode gap, and low time lag circuit means l'laving low resistance and inductance connect is said eapacitor to said electrodes for suddenly discharging the same thereacross upon passage of a rut oetween said electrodes at a current value of the order of at least many hundreds of whereby the shell of the nut will be sh attere. the discharge occurring between electrodes substantially diametrically of the nut.

11. An apparatus for cracking nuts a pair of spaced apart electrodes having a corn mon axis, impulse voltage supply means connected to said electrodes for impressing an impulse voltage across said eelctrodes of a magnitude sufficient to cause a discharge thereacross having a current value of at least many hundreds of amp-ares, and means for passing nuts between said electrodes with their longest dimension extending in a direction parallel with the common axis of said electrodes.

12. An apparatus for cracking nuts comprising a pair of electrodes spaced apart to form a gap therebetween, an impulse voltage supply means connected to said electrodes for impressing an impulse voltage across said electrodes of a value greater than the critical breakdown value of the gap between said electrodes, circuit means having low resistance and inductance connected between said supply means and said electrodes for causin the current value of the discharge occurring between said electrodes to be of the order of at least many hundreds of ampere-s, and means for passing one nut at a time substantially through said gap between said electrodes concurrently with the discharge of said impulse voltage across said electrodes whereby the shell of the nut will be shattered by the discharge.

13. An apparatus for cracking nuts comprising a pair of electrodes, said electrodes being spaced apart a distance greater than the maximum diameter of the nuts to be cracked for receiving a nut therebetween, means for feeding nuts between said electrodes, impulse voltage supply means connected to said electrodes for causing a high voltage discharge having a current value of at least many hundreds of amperes to take place between said electrodes and substantially diametrically through said nut for effecting shattering of the nut shell.

14. An apparatus for cracking nut-s comprising a pair of electrodes, said electrodes being spaced apart a distance greater than the maximum diameter of the nuts for receiving a nut therebetween, means for positioning a nut between said electrodes, impulse voltage supply means connected to said electrodes for causing a high voltage discharge to occur between said electrodes and substantially diametrically through the nut therebetween, circuit means connected between said supply means and said electrodes for causing the current value of the discharge to be of the order of at least many hundreds of amperes whereby the nut shell will be shattered by the discharge.

15. An apparatus for cracking nuts comprising a of electrodes spaced apart a distance greater than the maximum diameter of the nuts to be cracked for receiving a nut therebetween, means for positioning a nut between said electrodes, an impulse voltage supply means, switch means for effectively connecting said supply means to said electrodes for causing an impulse voltage discharge to occur between said electrodes and substantially diametrically through the nut therebetween, circuit means having low inductance and resistance connected between,

said voltage supply means and said electrodes for causing the current value of said discharge to be of the order of at least many hundreds of amperes depending upon the strength of the nut shell whereby the nut shell will be shattered by said discharge.

16. In an apparatus for cracking nuts, the combination comprising a pair of electrodes, said electrodes being spaced apart a distance greater than the maximum diameter of the nuts to be cracked, means for passing nuts between said spaced apart electrodes, a high impulse voltage supply means, a low inductance and resistance circuit means connecting said supply means across said electrode means for causing a discharge of said supply means to occur across said electrode means at a rate of at least hundreds of amperes per microsecond, said electrode means being adapted for receiving nuts therebetween but with the nut closely adjacent one of said electrode means for promoting puncture of the shell by the discharge occurring substantially diametrically through the nut.

17. In apparatus for cracking nuts, the combination comprising a pair of electrodes, said electrodes being spaced apart a distance greater than the maximum diameter of the nuts to be cracked, an impulse voltage supply means connected to said electrodes for impressing a voltage across said gap slightly less than the critical breakdown value of the gap between the electrodes, means for feeding a nut sufficiently contiguous to said electrodes to provide a path of lesser dielectric strength therebetween than said gap whereby discharge of said electrodes will occur substantially diametrically through said nut, and discharge circuit means having low inductance and low resistance connected between said supply means and said electrodes for causing the current value of said discharge to be of the order of at least many hundreds of amperes per microsecond.

18. In apparatus for cracking nuts, the con bination comprising a pair of electrodes, said electrodes being spaced apart a distance greater than the maximum diameter of the nuts to be cracked, a capacitor, means connecting the op posite terminals of said capacitor to said electrodes, power supply means for charging said capacitor to a voltage slightly less than the air breakdown voltage of the electrode gap, and means for feeding a nut sufiiciently contiguous to said electrodes to provide a path of lesser dielectric strength therebetween than said gap whereby an impulse discharge between said electrodes will occur substantially diametrically through said nut.

19. In an apparatus for cracking nuts, the combination comprising a pair of electrodes spaced apart a distance greater than the maximum diameter of the nuts to be cracked, means for passing nuts between said spaced apart electrodes, impulse voltage supply means, low inductance and low resistance circuit means con necting said supply means across said space. electrode means for causing discharge of supply means across said spaced electrodes upon passage of a nut between said electrodes and at a rate of the order of hundreds of amperes per microsecond, whereby said discharge will occur substantially diametrically through the nut.

FRED O. MCMILLAN References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,250,140 Chapman Dec. 13, 1917 2,200,405 Watson May 14, 1940 2,248,368 Low July 8, 1941 2,308,860 Clark Jan. 19, 1943 2,318,265 Stogmeier May 4, 19%.; 2,365,576 Meaker Dec. 19, 10% 2,400,113 Haine May 14, 1946 2,534,362 Mognuson Dec. 19, 1950 

